New member introduction and question on creating a good estimate.

Garrett Bateman

Hey all,

My name is Garrett, owner of Top Stitch Upholstery In Flagstaff, AZ. I worked primarily in Phoenix, Az before relocating back to my home town Flagstaff due to unforeseen Family tragedy. Also around the same time I had AC Joint reconstruction (shoulder/collar bone). I decide since I couldn't work this would be my opportunity to get things in order to finally work for myself. I Started up just a few months ago with a home occupation permit and the other necessary tax forms. Currently I'm working on building my brand and image with things like logo, website, social media, etc, before making my self known. My focus is on After market install as I was a Katzkin installer for 6 years averaging 3-4 cars a day with a 3-4 member team. I was offered the shop Foreman position before my departure in an attempt to keep me around. Basically installs are my expertise. Upholstery is my hobbies. I believe my upholstery work Is quality but not having as much experience I'm not the most efficient. I spend a lot of time thinking and figuring things out. I'm sure with time these things will become second nature like installs are for me. Enough rambling though.

I did have a question for you guys/gals. I attempted a search but didn't find much.

I'm currently working on a job doing: seats, "Dynomatt", carpet, headliner, steering wheel, seat heaters, and converting from buckets to 40/20/40 on a 01' F-250 Lariat. Now that I am becoming a legit business I'm trying to be more precise and having a method to my estimating, so I can keep things consistent.Before I would just kind of count my fingers and toes and wait for a number to pop in my head.

My main question is what do you guys think is a fair mark up on materials and or parts or do you mark up on materials at all?

My other question, Does anyone have a cheat sheet for estimating labor times, that they would be willing to share? I Always screw my self in estimates with labor times! (I hope this is not an inappropriate question)

I look forward to being part of the community here and hope that I can offer support too others, in the areas that I am skilled in.

Cheers,

Garrett

Michael cullen

You need to work out costing of time eg what you need to charge to keep the doors open so things like lease, utility's matainance of equipment.
Break it down into say a 40hr week (we wish).
So you take cost of rent+power and divide that by 40 and thats just keeping the door open and lights on.

Michael cullen

My wife found one years ago ill see if i can find it
Mainly to do with automotive but you get the general gist of it

Fred Mattson

I wrote an article for the Hog Ring awhile back that might be helpful for you. You can find it at this location:
http://www.thehogring.com/2013/10/27/estimating-101-what-you-need-to-know/

Garrett Bateman

Thank you for the feed back guys. Great article Fred, and i think you are 100% correct in the statement of accurate estimates being crucial. I'm piecing together a quick reference sheet for job times to use now. I will post it in here when I am done for any feedback.

Grant Ferrier

Hi Garrett , its a good question an i myself am in the same but slightly different position of doing my trade some 20 years ago and after 15 years in security cctv sales Ive started back up from home and hoping to get into a workshop and be able to quit my day job in 6 months , so even being a tradesman im still re learning a lot of old stuff and new as well , so looking forward also to any replies here , ill go and read Freds post to start

New member introduction and question on creating a good estimate.

Welcome to The Hog Ring!

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